Thu, 03/18/2004 - 00:00

Kim's Gem looks ready to fire big off layoff

Kim's Gem, who has turned in three straight bullet works for his first start in two months, is the one to catch Saturday night in the $50,000 Clyde B. Stephens Stakes at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

The five-furlong race, for 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana, drew a full field of 10.

Kim's Gem has developed rapidly over the winter. He won his maiden at Fair Grounds on Nov. 28, then in his next start finished second in the $84,000 Louisiana Futurity. Kim's Gem followed up that race with a front-running win in a conditioned allowance for statebreds at Fair Grounds.

Thu, 03/18/2004 - 00:00

Sam Houston: A prep for Premiere

Agrivating General takes on a competitive group of Texas-bred stakes winners in the $40,000 Spring Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. The seven-furlong race figures to produce starters for the Premiere Stakes on opening night at Lone Star Park on April 15.

Thu, 03/18/2004 - 00:00

El Dorado Shooter must answer some questions

ALBANY, Calif. - Saturday's $55,000-added Danville Handicap at Golden Gate Fields is just the latest in a series of strong sprint stakes in northern California.

Stakes winners, runners with triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, speedsters, stalkers - the Danville has it all, not to mention several key question marks.

The biggest question mark in the race concerns El Dorado Shooter, who sports the best credentials in the field of eight and who got an advantageous draw in post 7.

Thu, 03/18/2004 - 00:00

Aqueduct cancels Friday, will run Monday

The New York Racing Association canceled Friday's nine-race card at Aqueduct because of a forecast that called for more than four inches of snow. The track was also closed for simulcasting on Friday.

The nine races that were to be run on Friday will now be run on Sunday. Additionally, Aqueduct will be open for live racing on Monday, normally a dark day. Monday's card will consist of the races in the condition book for Sunday. Entries will be taken on Saturday for Monday's card.

Friday's cancellation is Aqueduct's 11th of the winter, but the first since Feb. 6.

Wed, 03/17/2004 - 00:00

Silver Minister takes on silver-spoon rival

Let there be no doubt that Marylou Whitney is racing royalty. An heiress to the fortune amassed more than a century ago by the industrialist William Whitney, she long ago established a reputation for glamour and dignity.

Wed, 03/17/2004 - 00:00

Trying to bring out Gran Prospect's talent

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Gran Prospect, who was beaten just three-quarters of a length by The Cliff's Edge last year in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, will add blinkers for the $200,000 Rebel for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.

Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Rebel will be Gran Prospect's second start as a 3-year-old. In his last out, Gran Prospect finished second, eight lengths behind Pure American, in an entry-level allowance at Oaklawn on Feb. 28. Pure American is headed for the Grade 2 Illinois Derby.

Wed, 03/17/2004 - 00:00

Quick Action gets a second chance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Of the 19 3-year-olds trainer D. Wayne Lukas nominated to the Triple Crown, Quick Action is the only one to have won a race this year. Quick Action earned that victory in the six-furlong Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes over Aqueduct's inner track in January.

Wed, 03/17/2004 - 00:00

Getting down to business

ARCADIA, Calif. - The field for the April 3 Santa Anita Derby is in flux, with several trainers considering sending locally based horses out of town for their final Kentucky Derby tune-ups, but two of the top contenders for that race began serious preparations on Wednesday for the West's key Derby prep race.

Imperialism and Lion Heart, the one-two finishers in the San Rafael Stakes, both had their first works since that March 6 race. Imperialism covered a half-mile at Hollywood Park in 47.60 seconds, while Lion Heart breezed a half-mile at Santa Anita in 48.60 seconds.

Wed, 03/17/2004 - 00:00

All signs point to 'Honey'

ARCADIA, Calif. - Honeypenny has already won after a lengthy layoff, and she has won on the downhill turf course. In Friday's featured allowance race at Santa Anita, she combines those two strengths, as she returns from a three-month vacation to head a downhill turf sprint.

Only five were entered in the feature, and because of the small field, the race will be kept out of the pick six. It will be run as the second race on an eight-race card. Post time is 1 p.m.

Wed, 03/17/2004 - 00:00

Happy mistake led to Might E Man's win

PORTLAND, Ore. - Trainer Ben Root credits a barn mistake for Might E Man's 8-1 upset in last Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Preview Stakes, the final prep for the $20,000 Oregon Derby on April 3.